ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa.–The Elizabethtown Police Department is warning residents of a new scam involving a recorded message in which scammers identify themselves as being with a credit card services company. The added twist is that the resident’s phone Caller ID reads “Elizabethtown Police Department.”
Police say it’s not legit and scammers are “spoofing” the law enforcement agencies phone number in order to dupe people into giving them personal information.
The Elizabethtown Police Department says that at no time will police attempt to solicit credit card and/or account information via telephone. Nor will police solicit donations over the telephone.
According to police, spoofing occurs when a caller deliberately falsifies the information transmitted to your Caller ID display to disguise their identity.
Investigators say when an officer contacts a member of the public by telephone, they will identify themselves and explain the reason for the call.
Anyone who believes it may not be legitimate can contact Elizabethtown Police at 717-367-6540.
